U.S. patent number 9,820,214 [Application Number 14/735,839] was granted by the patent office on 2017-11-14 for access control method, base station, user equipment, and mobility management entity.
This patent grant is currently assigned to HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Dong Chen, Philippe Reininger, Hongzhuo Zhang, Yang Zhao.
United States Patent |
9,820,214 |
Zhang , et al. |
November 14, 2017 |
Access control method, base station, user equipment, and mobility
management entity
Abstract
The present invention provides an access control method, a base
station, user equipment, and a mobility management entity, where
the access control method includes: receiving, by the base station,
a temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of
the UE and sent by the UE; receiving a service request message sent
by the UE, and determining a serving MME of the UE according to a
GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE; and sending the
service request message and the PLMN available indication to the
serving MME of the UE, so that the serving MME of the UE sends a
redirection indication, and the UE registers with an HPLMN of the
UE. Therefore, in a network sharing scenario, the UE can select the
home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as early as
possible.
Inventors: |
Zhang; Hongzhuo (Shanghai,
CN), Zhao; Yang (Shanghai, CN), Chen;
Dong (Shanghai, CN), Reininger; Philippe (Issy
Les Moulineaux, FR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen |
N/A |
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
(Shenzhen, CN)
|
Family
ID: |
50933677 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/735,839 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150282048 A1 |
Oct 1, 2015 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
PCT/CN2012/086353 |
Dec 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
48/04 (20130101); H04W 28/08 (20130101); H04W
48/18 (20130101); H04W 8/26 (20130101); H04W
8/14 (20130101); H04W 88/08 (20130101); H04W
88/005 (20130101); H04W 84/042 (20130101); H04W
8/12 (20130101); H04W 36/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04W
48/04 (20090101); H04W 8/14 (20090101); H04W
28/08 (20090101); H04W 48/18 (20090101); H04W
8/12 (20090101); H04W 8/26 (20090101); H04W
84/04 (20090101); H04W 88/00 (20090101); H04W
88/08 (20090101); H04W 36/12 (20090101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/432.1-433 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101272618 |
|
Sep 2008 |
|
CN |
|
101355793 |
|
Jan 2009 |
|
CN |
|
102026328 |
|
Apr 2011 |
|
CN |
|
102170626 |
|
Aug 2011 |
|
CN |
|
102696260 |
|
Sep 2012 |
|
CN |
|
2 161 963 |
|
Mar 2010 |
|
EP |
|
2 421 305 |
|
Feb 2012 |
|
EP |
|
2008/014684 |
|
Feb 2008 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Extended European Search Report dated Nov. 13, 2015 in
corresponding European Patent Application No. 12890008.1. cited by
applicant .
PCT International Search Report dated Sep. 19, 2013 in
corresponding International Patent Application No.
PCT/CN2012/086353. cited by applicant .
"3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification
Group Core Network and Terminals; Non-Access-Stratum (NAS)
functions related to Mobile Station (MS) in idle mode (Release
11)", 3GPP TS 23.122, V11.3.0, Sep. 2012, pp. 1-44. cited by
applicant .
International Search Report mailed Sep. 19, 2013 in corresponding
international application PCT/CN2012/086353. cited by applicant
.
Chinese Office Action dated Sep. 18, 2017 from Chinese Patent
Application No. 201280067660.0, 12 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Navar; Erica
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of International Application No.
PCT/CN2012/086353, filed on Dec. 11, 2012, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An access control method, comprising: receiving, by a base
station from user equipment, a temporary identifier and a public
land mobile network (PLMN) available indication that are of the
user equipment; receiving, by the base station from the user
equipment, a service request message; identifying, by the base
station, a serving mobility management entity of the user equipment
according to a global mobility management entity identifier in the
temporary identifier; sending, by the base station, the service
request message and the PLMN available indication to the serving
mobility management entity; receiving, by the base station, a
redirection message from the serving mobility management entity,
the redirection message carrying the service request message, a
cause of redirection, and information about a target mobility
management entity of redirection; sending, by the base station, an
initial user equipment message to the target mobility management
entity of redirection according to the information about the target
mobility management entity of redirection, the initial user
equipment message carrying the service request message and a
redirection attempt flag; and receiving, by the base station, a
redirection complete indication from the target mobility management
entity of redirection.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about
the target mobility management entity of redirection comprises at
least one of an identifier of the target mobility management entity
of redirection and an address of the target mobility management
entity of redirection.
3. An access control method, comprising: receiving, by a base
station from user equipment, a temporary identifier and a public
land mobile network (PLMN) available indication that are of the
user equipment; receiving, by the base station from the user
equipment, a service request message; identifying, by the base
station, a serving mobility management entity of the user equipment
according to a global mobility management entity identifier in the
temporary identifier; and sending, by the base station, the service
request message and the PLMN available indication to the serving
mobility management entity; receiving, by the base station, a
redirection message from the serving mobility management entity,
the redirection message carrying the service request message, a
cause of redirection, and an identifier of a target PLMN of
redirection; identifying, by the base station according to the
identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, a target mobility
management entity of redirection to which the target PLMN of
redirection belongs; sending an initial user equipment message to
the target mobility management entity of redirection, the initial
user equipment message carrying the service request message and a
redirection attempt flag; and receiving, by the base station, a
redirection complete indication from the target mobility management
entity of redirection.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the receiving, by
the base station, a redirection complete indication, the method
further comprises: receiving, by the base station, an initial
context setup message from the target mobility management entity of
redirection, wherein the initial context setup message is sent to
the base station after a bearer between a serving gateway and a
packet data gateway is set up, and a location of the user equipment
in a home subscriber server is updated by the target mobility
management entity of redirection; and sending, by the base station
after a radio bearer between the base station and the user
equipment is set up, an initial user equipment context setup
complete message to the target mobility management entity of
redirection.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PLMN available
indication is used to indicate that a home PLMN of the user
equipment is available, or the PLMN available indication is used to
indicate that an equivalent home PLMN of the user equipment is
available.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the PLMN available
indication is used to indicate that the equivalent home PLMN of the
user equipment is available, before the receiving, by the base
station, a service request message sent by the user equipment, the
method further comprises: receiving, by the base station, an
identifier, from the user equipment, of the equivalent home PLMN
selected by the user equipment; and after the determining a serving
mobility management entity of the user equipment, the method
further comprises: sending, by the base station, the identifier of
the equivalent home PLMN to the serving mobility management
entity.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the cause of
redirection comprises one of following: the user equipment is
redirected to a home PLMN of the user equipment, the user equipment
is redirected to an equivalent home PLMN of the user equipment, a
registered PLMN of the user equipment changes, a home PLMN of the
user equipment is available, and an equivalent home PLMN of the
user equipment is available.
8. A base station, comprising: a receiver, a processor, wherein the
processor is coupled with the receiver, and a transmitter, wherein
the transmitter is coupled with the processor, wherein: the
receiver receives, from user equipment, a temporary identifier and
a public land mobile network (PLMN) available indication that are
of the user equipment, and receives a service request message from
the user equipment; the processor identifies a serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment according to a global
mobility management entity identifier in the temporary identifier,
the processor causes the transmitter to send the service request
message and the PLMN available indication to the serving mobility
management entity, the receiver further receives a redirection
message from the serving mobility management entity, the
redirection message carrying the service request message, a cause
of redirection, and information about a target mobility management
entity of redirection, and further receives a redirection complete
indication from the target mobility management entity of
redirection, and the processor further causes the transmitter to
send the initial user equipment message to the target mobility
management entity of redirection according to the information about
the target mobility management entity of redirection, the initial
user equipment message carrying the service request message and a
redirection attempt flag.
9. The base station according to claim 8, wherein: the receiver
further receives a redirection message from the serving mobility
management entity, wherein the redirection message carries the
service request message, a cause of redirection, and an identifier
of a target PLMN of redirection; and receives a redirection
complete indication from a target mobility management entity of
redirection; the processor further identifies, according to the
identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, a target mobility
management entity of redirection to which the target PLMN of
redirection belongs; and the processor further causes the
transmitter to send the initial user equipment message to the
target mobility management entity of redirection, wherein the
initial user equipment message carries the service request message
and a redirection attempt flag.
10. The base station according to claim 8, wherein: the receiver
further receives, after receiving the redirection complete
indication, an initial context setup message from the target
mobility management entity of redirection, wherein the initial
context setup message is received by the base station after a
bearer between a serving gateway and a packet data gateway is set
up, and a location of the user equipment in a home subscriber
server is updated by the target mobility management entity of
redirection; the processor further sets up a radio bearer between
the base station and the user equipment; and the processor further
causes the transmitter to send an initial user equipment context
setup complete message to the target mobility management entity of
redirection after the radio bearer between the base station and the
user equipment is set up.
11. The base station according to claim 8, wherein the PLMN
available indication is used to indicate that a home PLMN of the
user equipment is available, or the PLMN available indication is
used to indicate that an equivalent home PLMN of the user equipment
is available.
12. The base station according to claim 11, wherein: the PLMN
available indication is used to indicate that the equivalent home
PLMN of the user equipment is available, the receiver receives,
before receiving the service request message from the user
equipment, an identifier, from the user equipment, of the
equivalent home PLMN selected by the user equipment; and the
processor further causes the transmitter to send the identifier of
the equivalent home PLMN selected by the user equipment to the
serving mobility management entity.
13. A system, comprising a base station and a mobility management
entity, wherein the base station is configured to: receive, from
user equipment, a temporary identifier and a public land mobile
network (PLMN) available indication that are of the user equipment,
and receives a service request message from the user equipment,
identify a serving mobility management entity of the user equipment
according to a global mobility management entity identifier in the
temporary identifier, and send the service request message and the
PLMN available indication to the serving mobility management
entity; the mobility management entity is the serving mobility
management entity and is configured to: receive, from the base
station, a service request message and a public land mobile network
PLMN available indication, and send a redirection indication, so
that the user equipment registers with a target PLMN of
redirection, wherein: the base station is further configured to:
receive a redirection message from the serving mobility management
entity, the redirection message carrying the service request
message, a cause of redirection, and information about a target
mobility management entity of redirection, send the initial user
equipment message to the target mobility management entity of
redirection according to the information about the target mobility
management entity of redirection, the initial user equipment
message carrying the service request message and a redirection
attempt flag, and receive a redirection complete indication from
the target mobility management entity of redirection; and the
mobility management entity is further configured to send the
redirection message to the base station after receiving the PLMN
available indication.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein: the base station is
further configured to receive a redirection message from the
serving mobility management entity, wherein the redirection message
carries the service request message, a cause of redirection, and an
identifier of a target PLMN of redirection; identify, according to
the identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, a target mobility
management entity of redirection to which the target PLMN of
redirection belongs; send the initial user equipment message to the
target mobility management entity of redirection, wherein the
initial user equipment message carries the service request message
and a redirection attempt flag; and receive a redirection complete
indication from a target mobility management entity of
redirection.
15. The system according to claim 13, wherein: the base station is
further configured to receive, after receiving the redirection
complete indication, an initial context setup message from the
target mobility management entity of redirection, wherein the
initial context setup message is received by the base station after
a bearer between a serving gateway and a packet data gateway is set
up, and a location of the user equipment in a home subscriber
server is updated by the target mobility management entity of
redirection; set up a radio bearer between the base station and the
user equipment; and send an initial user equipment context setup
complete message to the target mobility management entity of
redirection after the radio bearer between the base station and the
user equipment is set up.
16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the PLMN available
indication indicates that a home PLMN of the user equipment is
available, or the PLMN available indication indicates that an
equivalent home PLMN of the user equipment is available.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein: the PLMN available
indication indicates that the equivalent home PLMN of the user
equipment is available, the base station is further configured to
receive, before receiving the service request message from the user
equipment, an identifier, from the user equipment, of the
equivalent home PLMN selected by the user equipment; and send the
identifier of the equivalent home PLMN selected by the user
equipment to the serving mobility management entity.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of communications
technologies, and in particular, to an access control method, a
base station, user equipment, and a mobility management entity.
BACKGROUND
Construction of a mobile network requires a huge amount of funds,
which brings heavy financial pressure to an operator. A network
sharing technology can enable multiple operators to provide
services for their respective subscribers by using a shared mobile
network, significantly reducing costs for repeated construction of
mobile networks. Currently, there are mainly four network sharing
manners: (1) sharing a site; (2) sharing an access network; (3)
sharing both an access network and a core network; (4) sharing a
geographical area network.
A Long Term Evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE for short) mobile
communications system is used as an example. User equipment (User
Equipment, UE for short) in an idle state initiates a service
request procedure before sending uplink data. During an UE access
process, the UE selects a previously registered mobility management
entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME for short) as its serving
MME. Therefore, an operator serving the UE does not change in a
service access procedure. However, in a network sharing scenario,
when moving from a network of operator A to a shared network on
which both operator A and operator B can provide a service, a
subscriber of operator B cannot select, in a timely manner, the
home operator B of the subscriber as a serving operator of the
subscriber.
In addition, in a network scenario in which an access network is
shared, or in a network scenario in which both an access network
and a core network are shared, an LTE mobile communications system
is still used as an example. A base station (evolved NodeB, eNB for
short) broadcasts, in a broadcast message, a list of operators
supported by the evolved NodeB, that is, a public land mobile
network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN for short) list. A UE
reads the operator list (PLMN list) in the broadcast message,
selects one PLMN from the operator list, and sends the selected
PLMN to the eNB in a Radio Resource Control (Radio Resource
Control, RRC for short) connection setup procedure, and the eNB
selects a core network node of this operator for the UE according
to the selected PLMN, to provide a service for the UE. However,
when a core network node of an operator is overloaded, subsequent
access of a subscriber of this operator cannot be controlled in the
prior art. Moreover, in an enhanced network sharing scenario, when
a quantity of access subscribers of an operator reaches an upper
limit of a rented share, subsequent access of a subscriber of this
operator cannot be controlled in the prior art. In addition, when a
roaming subscriber accesses a shared network, load sharing cannot
be performed among multiple operators. As a result, an operator
ranking first in a broadcast list tends to be overloaded, or
achieves an excessive income from roaming subscribers.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an access control method, a base
station, user equipment, and a mobility management entity, so that
in a network sharing scenario, the user equipment can register with
a home operator of the user equipment as early as possible.
A first aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: receiving, by a base station, a temporary
identifier and a public land mobile network PLMN available
indication that are of user equipment and sent by the user
equipment; receiving, by the base station, a service request
message sent by the user equipment, and determining a serving
mobility management entity of the user equipment according to a
global mobility management entity identifier in the temporary
identifier of the user equipment; and sending, by the base station,
the service request message and the PLMN available indication to
the serving mobility management entity of the user equipment.
A second aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: receiving, by a mobility management entity, a
service request message and a public land mobile network PLMN
available indication that are sent by a base station, where the
mobility management entity is a serving mobility management entity
of user equipment, and the service request message and the PLMN
available indication are sent to the mobility management entity
after the base station receives a temporary identifier and the PLMN
available indication that are of the user equipment and sent by the
user equipment, receives the service request message sent by the
user equipment, and determines the serving mobility management
entity of the user equipment according to a global mobility
management entity identifier in the temporary identifier of the
user equipment; and sending, by the mobility management entity, a
redirection indication, so that the user equipment registers with a
target PLMN of redirection.
A third aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: sending, by user equipment, a temporary
identifier and a public land mobile network PLMN available
indication that are of the user equipment to a base station; and
sending, by the user equipment, a service request message to the
base station, so that after receiving the service request message
sent by the user equipment, the base station determines a serving
mobility management entity of the user equipment according to a
global mobility management entity identifier in the temporary
identifier of the user equipment, and sends the service request
message and the PLMN available indication to the serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: reading, by user equipment, an operator list
broadcast by a cell; and if the operator list does not include a
public land mobile network PLMN with which the user equipment
successfully registers most recently, a home PLMN of the user
equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN,
randomly selecting, by the user equipment when the operator list
includes at least two visited PLMNs, one PLMN from the at least two
visited PLMNs for access.
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: reading, by user equipment, an operator list and
an operator barring indication that are broadcast by a cell, where
the operator barring indication is used to indicate an identifier
of a PLMN that is barred for access; and if the operator list does
not include a public land mobile network PLMN with which the user
equipment successfully registers most recently, a home PLMN of the
user equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an operator controlled
PLMN, selecting, by the user equipment when the operator list
includes at least two visited PLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN
indicated by the operator barring indication from the at least two
visited PLMNs for access.
A sixth aspect of the present invention provides an access control
method, including: reading, by user equipment, an operator list and
a preferred operator indication that are broadcast by a cell, where
the preferred operator indication is used to indicate an identifier
of a public land mobile network PLMN that is preferably accessed by
a roaming subscriber; and if the operator list does not include a
PLMN with which the user equipment successfully registers most
recently, a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled
PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN, selecting, by the user
equipment, the PLMN indicated by the preferred operator indication
from the operator list for access.
A seventh aspect of the present invention provides an access
control method, including: obtaining, by a base station, an
operator list and an operator barring indication, where the
operator barring indication is used to indicate an identifier of a
PLMN that is barred for access; and broadcasting, by the base
station, the operator list and the operator barring indication, so
that after the user equipment reads the operator list and the
operator barring indication, and when the operator list does not
include a public land mobile network PLMN with which the user
equipment successfully registers most recently, a home PLMN of the
user equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an operator controlled
PLMN, the user equipment selects, when the operator list includes
at least two visited PLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN indicated by
the operator barring indication from the at least two visited PLMNs
for access.
An eighth aspect of the present invention provides an access
control method, including: obtaining, by a base station, an
operator list and a preferred operator indication, where the
preferred operator indication is used to indicate an identifier of
a public land mobile network PLMN that is preferably accessed by a
roaming subscriber; and broadcasting, by the base station, the
operator list and the preferred operator indication, so that after
the user equipment reads the operator list and the preferred
operator indication, and when the operator list does not include a
PLMN with which the user equipment successfully registers most
recently, a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled
PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN, the user equipment selects
the PLMN indicated by the preferred operator indication from the
operator list for access.
A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a base station,
including: a receiving module, configured to: receive a temporary
identifier and a public land mobile network PLMN available
indication that are of user equipment and sent by the user
equipment; and receive a service request message sent by the user
equipment; a determining module, configured to determine a serving
mobility management entity of the user equipment according to a
global mobility management entity identifier in the temporary
identifier of the user equipment received by the receiving module;
and a sending module, configured to send the service request
message received by the receiving module and the PLMN available
indication received by the receiving module to the serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment determined by the
determining module.
A tenth aspect of the present invention provides a mobility
management entity, including: a receiving module, configured to
receive a service request message and a public land mobile network
PLMN available indication that are sent by a base station, where
the mobility management entity is a serving mobility management
entity of user equipment, and the service request message and the
PLMN available indication are sent to the mobility management
entity after the base station receives a temporary identifier and
the PLMN available indication that are of the user equipment and
sent by the user equipment, receives the service request message
sent by the user equipment, and determines the serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment according to a global
mobility management entity identifier in the temporary identifier
of the user equipment; and a sending module, configured to send a
redirection indication, so that the user equipment registers with a
target PLMN of redirection.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including: a sending module, configured to: send a
temporary identifier and a public land mobile network PLMN
available indication that are of the user equipment to a base
station; and send a service request message to the base station, so
that after receiving the service request message sent by the user
equipment, the base station determines a serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment according to a global
mobility management entity identifier in the temporary identifier
of the user equipment, and sends the service request message and
the PLMN available indication to the serving mobility management
entity of the user equipment.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides user equipment,
including: a reading module, configured to read an operator list
broadcast by a cell; and an accessing module, configured to: when
the operator list read by the reading module does not include a
public land mobile network PLMN with which the user equipment
successfully registers most recently, a home PLMN of the user
equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN,
randomly select, if the operator list includes at least two visited
PLMNs, one PLMN from the at least two visited PLMNs for access.
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including: a reading module, configured to read an
operator list and an operator barring indication that are broadcast
by a cell, where the operator barring indication is used to
indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is barred for access; and an
accessing module, configured to: when the operator list read by the
reading module does not include a public land mobile network PLMN
with which the user equipment successfully registers most recently,
a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an
operator controlled PLMN, select, if the operator list includes at
least two visited PLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN indicated by the
operator barring indication from the at least two visited PLMNs for
access.
A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including: a reading module, configured to read an
operator list and a preferred operator indication that are
broadcast by a cell, where the preferred operator indication is
used to indicate an identifier of a public land mobile network PLMN
that is preferably accessed by a roaming subscriber; and an
accessing module, configured to: when the operator list does not
include a PLMN with which the user equipment successfully registers
most recently, a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled
PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN, select the PLMN indicated by
the preferred operator indication from the operator list for
access.
A fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides a base
station, including: an obtaining module, configured to obtain an
operator list and an operator barring indication, where the
operator barring indication is used to indicate an identifier of a
PLMN that is barred for access; and a broadcasting module,
configured to broadcast the operator list obtained by the obtaining
module and the operator barring indication obtained by the
obtaining module, so that after the user equipment reads the
operator list and the operator barring indication, and when the
operator list does not include a public land mobile network PLMN
with which the user equipment successfully registers most recently,
a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled PLMN, or an
operator controlled PLMN, the user equipment selects, when the
operator list includes at least two visited PLMNs, one PLMN except
the PLMN indicated by the operator barring indication from the at
least two visited PLMNs for access.
A sixteenth aspect of the present invention provides a base
station, including: an obtaining module, configured to obtain an
operator list and a preferred operator indication, where the
preferred operator indication is used to indicate an identifier of
a public land mobile network PLMN that is preferably accessed by a
roaming subscriber; and a broadcasting module, configured to
broadcast the operator list obtained by the obtaining module and
the preferred operator indication obtained by the obtaining module,
so that after the user equipment reads the operator list and the
preferred operator indication, and when the operator list does not
include a PLMN with which the user equipment successfully registers
most recently, a home PLMN of the user equipment, a user controlled
PLMN, or an operator controlled PLMN, the user equipment selects
the PLMN indicated by the preferred operator indication from the
operator list for access.
A seventeenth aspect of the present invention provides a base
station, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
first aspect of the present invention.
An eighteenth aspect of the present invention provides a mobility
management entity, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory,
and a processor that is separately connected to the transmitter,
the receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
second aspect of the present invention.
A nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
third aspect of the present invention.
A twentieth aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
fourth aspect of the present invention.
A twenty-first aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
fifth aspect of the present invention.
A twenty-second aspect of the present invention provides user
equipment, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
sixth aspect of the present invention.
A twenty-third aspect of the present invention provides a base
station, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
seventh aspect of the present invention.
A twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention provides a base
station, including a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a
processor that is separately connected to the transmitter, the
receiver, and the memory, where the memory stores a group of
program code, and the processor is configured to invoke the program
code stored in the memory to execute the method according to the
eighth aspect of the present invention.
A technical effect of the present invention is as follows: After a
base station receives a temporary identifier and a PLMN available
indication that are of user equipment and sent by the user
equipment, and receives a service request message sent by the user
equipment, the base station determines a serving mobility
management entity of the user equipment according to a global
mobility management entity identifier in the temporary identifier
of the user equipment; then, the base station sends the service
request message and the PLMN available indication to the serving
mobility management entity of the user equipment, so that the
serving mobility management entity of the user equipment sends a
redirection indication, and the user equipment registers with a
home PLMN of the user equipment. Therefore, in a network sharing
scenario, the user equipment can select a home PLMN of the user
equipment as a serving PLMN of the user equipment as early as
possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the
present invention more clearly, the following briefly introduces
the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments
or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the
following description show some embodiments of the present
invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still
derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without
creative efforts.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an access control method
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of another embodiment of an access control
method according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a
base station according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
a base station according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a
mobility management entity according to the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of user
equipment according to the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
user equipment according to the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present
invention;
FIG. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present
invention;
FIG. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present
invention;
FIG. 21 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
a mobility management entity according to the present
invention;
FIG. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 23 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present
invention;
FIG. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention;
and
FIG. 27 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the
embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following clearly
describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the
embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described
embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present
invention. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary
skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention
without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of
the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an access control method
according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the access
control method may include:
Step 101: A base station receives a temporary identifier and a PLMN
available indication that are of a UE and sent by the UE.
In this embodiment, the temporary identifier of the UE may be a
short temporary mobile subscriber identity (Short Temporary Mobile
Subscriber Identity, S-TMSI for short).
Step 102: The base station receives a service request message sent
by the UE, and determines a serving MME of the UE according to a
global mobility management entity identifier (Global Mobility
Management Entity Identifier, GMMEI for short) in the temporary
identifier of the UE.
Step 103: The base station sends the service request message and
the PLMN available indication to the serving MME of the UE.
Further, in an implementation manner of this embodiment, after step
103, the base station may further receive a redirection message
sent by the serving MME of the UE, where the redirection message
carries the service request message, a cause of redirection, and
information about a target mobility management entity of
redirection, and the redirection message is sent to the base
station after the serving MME of the UE receives the PLMN available
indication; then, the base station sends an initial user equipment
message to the target MME of redirection according to the
information about the target MME of redirection, where the initial
user equipment message carries the service request message and a
redirection attempt flag; next, the base station receives a
redirection complete indication sent by the target MME of
redirection.
The information about the target MME of redirection may be an
identifier of the target MME of redirection or an address of the
target MME of redirection.
In another implementation manner of this embodiment, after step
103, the base station may further receive a redirection message
sent by the serving MME of the UE, where the redirection message
carries the service request message, a cause of redirection, and an
identifier of a target PLMN of redirection, and the redirection
message is sent to the base station after the serving MME of the UE
receives the PLMN available indication; then, the base station may
determine, according to the identifier of the target PLMN of
redirection, a target MME of redirection to which the target PLMN
of redirection belongs, and send an initial user equipment message
to the target MME of redirection, where the initial user equipment
message carries the service request message and a redirection
attempt flag; next, the base station receives a redirection
complete indication sent by the target MME of redirection.
In the foregoing two implementation manners of this embodiment, the
cause of redirection may be that the UE is redirected to an HPLMN
of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an EHPLMN of the UE, or a
registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an HPLMN of the UE is
available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
In the foregoing two implementation manners of this embodiment,
after the base station receives the redirection complete indication
sent by the target MME of redirection, the base station may further
receive an initial context setup message sent by the target MME of
redirection, where the initial context setup message is sent to the
base station after the target MME of redirection sets up a bearer
between a serving gateway (Serving Gateway, SGW for short) and a
packet data gateway (Packet Data Network Gateway, PGW for short),
and updates a location of the UE in a home subscriber server (Home
Subscriber Server, HSS for short); next, the base station sends an
initial user equipment context setup complete message to the target
MME of redirection after setting up a radio bearer between the base
station and the UE, so that the target MME of redirection sends a
service response message to the UE after performing bearer
modification, where the service response message carries the
identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, so that the UE
registers with the target PLMN of redirection.
In this embodiment, the PLMN available indication is used to
indicate that a home PLMN (Home PLMN, HPLMN for short) of the UE is
available, or the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that an equivalent home PLMN (Equivalent Home PLMN, EHPLMN for
short) of the UE is available.
Optionally, when the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, in step 102, before the
base station receives the service request message sent by the UE,
the base station may further receive an identifier, sent by the UE,
of the EHPLMN selected by the UE; then, after determining the
serving MME of the UE in step 102, the base station may further
send the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the serving
MME of the UE. In this way, the serving MME of the UE may determine
the target MME of redirection or the target PLMN of redirection
according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE.
In the foregoing embodiment, after a base station receives a
temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of a
UE and sent by the UE, and receives a service request message sent
by the UE, the base station determines a serving MME of the UE
according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE; then,
the base station sends the service request message and the PLMN
available indication to the serving MME of the UE, so that the
serving MME of the UE sends a redirection indication, and the UE
registers with a home PLMN. Therefore, in a network sharing
scenario, the UE can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN
of the UE as early as possible.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of another embodiment of an access control
method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the
access control method may include:
Step 201: An MME receives a service request message and a PLMN
available indication that are sent by a base station.
The MME is a serving MME of a UE. The service request message and
the PLMN available indication are sent to the MME after the base
station receives a temporary identifier of the UE and the PLMN
available indication that are sent by the UE, receives the service
request message sent by the UE, and determines the serving MME of
the UE according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE,
where the temporary identifier of the UE may be an S-TMSI.
Step 202: The MME sends a redirection indication, so that a UE
registers with a target PLMN of redirection.
In an implementation manner of this embodiment, that the MME sends
a redirection indication may be that: the MME sends a redirection
message to the base station after receiving the PLMN available
indication, where the redirection message carries the service
request message and a cause of redirection. The cause of
redirection may be that the UE is redirected to an HPLMN of the UE,
or the UE is redirected to an EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered
PLMN of the UE changes, or an HPLMN of the UE is available, or an
EHPLMN of the UE is available.
The redirection message may further carry information about a
target MME of redirection, where the information about the target
MME of redirection may be an identifier of the target MME of
redirection or an address of the target MME of redirection.
Alternatively, the redirection message may further carry an
identifier of the target PLMN of redirection.
In another implementation manner of this embodiment, that the MME
sends a redirection indication may be that: the MME sends a service
response message to the UE after receiving the PLMN available
indication, where the service response message carries the
redirection indication, and a cause of redirection may be that the
UE is redirected to an HPLMN of the UE, or the UE is redirected to
an EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an
HPLMN of the UE is available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is
available.
In this embodiment, the PLMN available indication is used to
indicate that the HPLMN of the UE is available, or the PLMN
available indication is used to indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE
is available.
Optionally, when the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, before the MME sends the
redirection indication, the MME may further receive an identifier,
sent by the base station, of the EHPLMN selected by the UE; then,
the MME determines the target MME of redirection or the target PLMN
of redirection according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected
by the UE.
Specifically, that the MME determines the target MME of redirection
according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE may be
that: the MME determines, according to the identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE, an MME to which the EHPLMN selected by the UE
belongs, and determines that the MME to which the EHPLMN selected
by the UE belongs is the target MME of redirection; or the MME
reselects an EHPLMN for the UE according to the identifier of the
EHPLMN selected by the UE, and determines that an MME to which the
reselected EHPLMN belongs is the target MME of redirection.
After determining the target MME of redirection, information about
the target MME of redirection is carried in the redirection message
sent by the MME.
Likewise, that the MME determines the target PLMN of redirection
according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE may be
that: the MME determines, according to the identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE, that the EHPLMN selected by the UE is the
target PLMN of redirection; or the MME reselects an EHPLMN for the
UE according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE,
and determines that the reselected EHPLMN is the target PLMN of
redirection.
After determining the target PLMN of redirection, the identifier of
the target PLMN of redirection is carried in the redirection
message sent by the MME.
In the foregoing embodiment, after an MME receives a service
request message and a PLMN available indication that are sent by a
base station, the MME sends a redirection indication, so that a UE
registers with a target PLMN of redirection. Therefore, in a
network sharing scenario, the UE can select a home PLMN of the UE
as a serving PLMN of the UE as early as possible.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
3, the access control method may include:
Step 301: A UE sends a temporary identifier and a PLMN available
indication that are of the UE to a base station.
The temporary identifier of the UE may be an S-TMSI of the UE.
Step 302: The UE sends a service request message to the base
station, so that after receiving the service request message sent
by the UE, the base station determines a serving MME of the UE
according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE, and
sends the service request message and the PLMN available indication
to the serving MME of the UE.
Further, in step 302, after the UE sends the service request
message to the base station, the UE may further receive a service
response message sent by the serving MME of the UE, where the
service response message carries a redirection indication, and a
cause of redirection may be that the UE is redirected to an HPLMN
of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an EHPLMN of the UE, or a
registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an HPLMN of the UE is
available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is available; and the service
response message is sent to the UE after the serving MME of the UE
receives the PLMN available indication sent by the base
station.
The PLMN available indication is used to indicate that the home
PLMN of the UE is available, or the PLMN available indication is
used to indicate that an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
Optionally, when the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, in step 302, before the UE
sends the service request message to the base station, the UE may
further send an identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the
base station, so that the base station sends the identifier of the
EHPLMN selected by the UE to the serving MME of the UE, and the
serving MME of the UE determines a target PLMN of redirection
according to the EHPLMN selected by the UE. The target PLMN of
redirection may be the EHPLMN of the UE.
In the foregoing embodiment, a UE sends a temporary identifier and
a PLMN available indication that are of the UE to a base station,
and then sends a service request message to the base station, so
that after receiving the service request message sent by the UE,
the base station determines a serving MME of the UE according to a
GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE, and sends the service
request message and the PLMN available indication to the serving
MME of the UE. In this way, after the serving MME of the UE
receives the service request message and the PLMN available
indication that are sent by the base station, the serving MME of
the UE sends a redirection indication, so that the UE registers
with a target PLMN of redirection, where the target PLMN of
redirection may be an EHPLMN of the UE. Therefore, in a network
sharing scenario, the UE can select a home PLMN of the UE as a
serving PLMN of the UE as early as possible.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
4, the access control method may include:
Step 401: A UE sends an RRC connection request (RRC Connection
Request) message to an eNB, where the RRC connection request
message carries a temporary identifier S-TMSI of the UE.
Step 402: The eNB sends an RRC connection setup (RRC Connection
Setup) message to the UE.
Step 403: The UE sends an RRC connection setup complete (RRC
Connection Setup Complete) message to the eNB to complete an RRC
connection setup procedure, where the RRC connection setup complete
message carries a PLMN available indication.
The PLMN available indication is used to indicate that an HPLMN of
the UE is available, or the PLMN available indication is used to
indicate that an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
Optionally, when the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, the RRC connection setup
complete message further carries an identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE.
Step 404: The UE sends a service request (Service Request) message
to the eNB, where the service request message is a non-access
stratum (Non-Access Stratum, NAS for short) message.
Step 405: The eNB determines a serving MME of the UE according to a
GMMEI in the S-TMSI of the UE, and sends, to the serving MME of the
UE, the service request message and the PLMN available indication
that are sent by the UE.
Optionally, if the RRC connection setup complete message carries
the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, a base station
sends the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the
serving MME of the UE.
Step 406: The serving MME of the UE sends a redirection message to
the eNB.
The redirection message carries the service request message and a
cause of redirection. The cause of redirection may be that the UE
is redirected to an HPLMN of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an
EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an
HPLMN of the UE is available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is
available.
The redirection message may further carry information about a
target MME of redirection, where the information about the target
MME of redirection may be an identifier of the target MME of
redirection or an address of the target MME of redirection.
Alternatively, the redirection message may further carry an
identifier of a target PLMN of redirection.
Optionally, if the serving MME of the UE receives the identifier,
sent by the base station, of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, the
serving MME of the UE may determine the target MME of redirection
or the target PLMN of redirection according to the identifier of
the EHPLMN selected by the UE.
Specifically, that the serving MME of the UE determines the target
MME of redirection according to the identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE may be that: the serving MME of the UE
determines, according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by
the UE, an MME to which the EHPLMN selected by the UE belongs, and
determines that the MME to which the EHPLMN selected by the UE
belongs is the target MME of redirection; or the serving MME of the
UE reselects an EHPLMN for the UE according to the identifier of
the EHPLMN selected by the UE, and determines that an MME to which
the reselected EHPLMN belongs is the target MME of redirection.
After determining the target MME of redirection, the information
about the target MME of redirection is carried in the redirection
message sent by the serving MME of the UE.
Likewise, that the serving MME of the UE determines the target PLMN
of redirection according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected
by the UE may be that: the serving MME of the UE determines,
according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, that
the EHPLMN selected by the UE is the target PLMN of redirection; or
the serving MME of the UE reselects an EHPLMN for the UE according
to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, and determines
that the reselected EHPLMN is the target PLMN of redirection.
After determining the target PLMN of redirection, the identifier of
the target PLMN of redirection is carried in the redirection
message sent by the serving MME of the UE.
Step 407: A base station sends an initial user equipment message
(Initial UE Message) to a target MME of redirection, where the
initial user equipment message carries the service request message
and a redirection attempt flag.
Specifically, if the redirection message carries the information
about the target MME of redirection, the base station may send the
initial user equipment message to the target MME of redirection
according to the information about the target MME of
redirection.
Alternatively, if the redirection message carries the identifier of
the target PLMN of redirection, the base station may determine,
according to the identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, a
target MME of redirection to which the target PLMN of redirection
belongs, and sends the initial user equipment message to the target
MME of redirection.
Step 408: The target MME of redirection sends a context request to
the serving MME of the UE, so as to request context information of
the UE.
Step 409: The serving MME of the UE sends a context response to the
target MME of redirection.
Step 410: The target MME of redirection performs an authorization
and authentication procedure on the UE, wherein a redirection
complete flag is carried in a message, such as a downlink
non-access stratum transport (Downlink NAS Transport, DL NAS
Transport) message, that is sent to the eNB.
Step 411: The target MME of redirection sets up a bearer between an
SGW and a PGW by using a session setup procedure.
Step 412: The target MME of redirection updates a location of the
UE in an HSS by using a location update procedure.
Step 413: The target MME of redirection sends an initial context
setup (Initial Context Setup) message to the eNB.
Step 414: Set up a radio bearer between the eNB and the UE.
Step 415: The eNB sends an initial user equipment context setup
complete (Initial UE Context Setup Complete) message to the target
MME of redirection.
Step 416: The target MME of redirection sends a modify bearer
request (Modify Bearer Request) message to the SGW.
Step 417: The SGW sends a modify bearer response (Modify Bearer
Response) message to the target MME of redirection.
Step 418: The target MME of redirection sends a service response
message to the UE, where the service response message carries an
identifier of a target PLMN of redirection.
The target PLMN of redirection may be the HPLMN of the UE or the
EHPLMN of the UE.
Step 419: The UE initiates a tracking area (Tracking Area, TA for
short) update procedure, and registers with the target PLMN of
redirection.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
5, the access control method may include:
Step 501: A UE sends an RRC connection request (RRC Connection
Request) message to an eNB, where the RRC connection request
message carries a temporary identifier S-TMSI of the UE.
Step 502: The eNB sends an RRC connection setup (RRC Connection
Setup) message to the UE.
Step 503: The UE sends an RRC connection setup complete (RRC
Connection Setup Complete) message to the eNB to complete an RRC
connection setup procedure, where the RRC connection setup complete
message carries a PLMN available indication.
The PLMN available indication is used to indicate that an HPLMN of
the UE is available, or the PLMN available indication is used to
indicate that an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
Optionally, when the PLMN available indication is used to indicate
that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, the RRC connection setup
complete message further carries an identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE.
Step 504: The UE sends a service request (Service Request) message
to the eNB, where the service request message is a NAS message.
Step 505: The eNB determines a serving MME of the UE according to a
GMMEI in the S-TMSI of the UE, and sends, to the serving MME of the
UE, the service request message and the PLMN available indication
that are sent by the UE.
Optionally, if the RRC connection setup complete message carries
the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, a base station
sends the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the
serving MME of the UE.
Step 506: The serving MME of the UE sends a service response
message to the UE, where the service response message carries a
redirection indication, and a cause of redirection may be that the
UE is redirected to an HPLMN of the UE, or the UE is redirected to
an EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an
HPLMN of the UE is available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is
available.
Optionally, if the serving MME of the UE receives the identifier,
sent by the base station, of the EHPLMN selected by the UE, the
serving MME of the UE may determine a target PLMN of redirection
according to the EHPLMN selected by the UE. The target PLMN of
redirection may be the EHPLMN of the UE.
Step 507: The UE sends a TA update request to a target MME of
redirection.
Specifically, after receiving the redirection indication sent by
the serving MME of the UE, the UE may determine the target MME of
redirection according to the cause of redirection, and then send
the TA update request to the target MME of redirection.
Step 508: A normal TA update procedure is performed.
Step 509: The UE sends a service request message to the target MME
of redirection.
Step 510: A normal service request procedure is performed.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
6, the access control method may include:
Step 601: A UE reads an operator list broadcast by a cell.
Step 602: If the operator list does not include a PLMN with which
the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a
user controlled PLMN (User Controlled PLMN, UPLMN for short), or an
operator controlled PLMN (Operator Controlled PLMN, OPLMN for
short), the UE randomly selects, when the operator list includes at
least two visited PLMNs (Visited PLMN, VPLMN for short), one PLMN
from the at least two VPLMNs for access.
In the foregoing embodiment, when accessing a shared network, a
roaming subscriber can equally access multiple PLMNs of multiple
operators, preventing a case in which an operator ranking first in
an operator list broadcast by a cell is overloaded due to access of
too many roaming subscribers, or achieves an excessive income from
roaming subscribers.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
7, the access control method may include:
Step 701: A UE reads an operator list and an operator barring
indication that are broadcast by a cell, where the operator barring
indication is used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is
barred for access.
Specifically, when a core network node of an operator is overloaded
or a quantity of access subscribers of an operator reaches an upper
limit of a rented share, the operator barring indication may be set
to forbid subsequent access of a roaming subscriber to this
operator.
Step 702: If the operator list does not include a PLMN with which
the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a
UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects, when the
operator list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the
PLMN indicated by the operator barring indication from the at least
two VPLMNs for access.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
8, the access control method may include:
Step 801: A UE reads an operator list and a preferred operator
indication that are broadcast by a cell, where the preferred
operator indication is used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN
that is preferably accessed by a roaming subscriber.
Step 802: If the operator list does not include a PLMN with which
the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a
UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects the PLMN
indicated by the preferred operator indication from the operator
list for access.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
9, the access control method may include:
Step 901: A base station obtains an operator list and an operator
barring indication, where the operator barring indication is used
to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is barred for access.
Specifically, when a core network node of an operator is overloaded
or a quantity of access subscribers of an operator reaches an upper
limit of a rented share, the operator barring indication may be set
to forbid subsequent access of a roaming subscriber to this
operator.
Step 902: The base station broadcasts the operator list and the
operator barring indication, so that after a UE reads the operator
list and the operator barring indication, and when the operator
list does not include a PLMN with which the UE successfully
registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN of the UE, or
an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects, when the operator list includes
at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN indicated by the
operator barring indication from the at least two VPLMNs for
access.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an access
control method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
10, the access control method may include:
Step 1001: A base station obtains an operator list and a preferred
operator indication, where the preferred operator indication is
used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is preferably
accessed by a roaming subscriber.
Step 1002: The base station broadcasts the operator list and the
preferred operator indication, so that after a UE reads the
operator list and the preferred operator indication that are
broadcast by a cell, and when the operator list does not include a
PLMN with which the UE successfully registers most recently, an
HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE
selects the PLMN indicated by the preferred operator indication
from the operator list for access.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or
some of the steps of the method embodiments may be implemented by a
program instructing relevant hardware. The foregoing program may be
stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program
runs, the steps of the method embodiments are performed. The
foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store
program code, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical
disc.
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a
base station according to the present invention. The base station
in this embodiment may implement a procedure of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the
base station may include: a receiving module 1101, a determining
module 1102, and a sending module 1103.
The receiving module 1101 is configured to: receive a temporary
identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of a UE and
sent by the UE; and receive a service request message sent by the
UE, where the temporary identifier of the UE may be an S-TMSI.
The determining module 1102 is configured to determine a serving
MME of the UE according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of
the UE received by the receiving module 1101.
The sending module 1103 is configured to send the service request
message received by the receiving module 1101 and the PLMN
available indication received by the receiving module 1101 to the
serving MME of the UE determined by the determining module
1102.
In an implementation manner of this embodiment, the receiving
module 1101 is further configured to: receive, after the sending
module 1103 sends the service request message and the PLMN
available indication, a redirection message sent by the serving MME
of the UE, where the redirection message carries the service
request message, a cause of redirection, and information about a
target MME of redirection, and the redirection message is sent to
the base station after the serving MME of the UE receives the PLMN
available indication; and receive, after the sending module 1103
sends an initial user equipment message, a redirection complete
indication sent by the target MME of redirection, where the
information about the target MME of redirection may be an
identifier of the target MME of redirection or an address of the
target MME of redirection.
The sending module 1103 is further configured to send the initial
user equipment message to the target MME of redirection according
to the information about the target MME of redirection received by
the receiving module 1101, where the initial user equipment message
carries the service request message and a redirection attempt
flag.
In another implementation manner of this embodiment, the receiving
module 1101 is further configured to: receive, after the sending
module 1103 sends the service request message and the PLMN
available indication, a redirection message sent by the serving MME
of the UE, where the redirection message carries the service
request message, a cause of redirection, and an identifier of a
target PLMN of redirection, and the redirection message is sent to
the base station after the serving MME of the UE receives the PLMN
available indication; and receive, after the sending module 1103
sends an initial user equipment message, a redirection complete
indication sent by the target MME of redirection.
The determining module 1102 is further configured to determine,
according to the identifier of the target PLMN of redirection
received by the receiving module 1101, a target MME of redirection
to which the target PLMN of redirection belongs.
The sending module 1103 is further configured to send the initial
user equipment message to the target MME of redirection determined
by the determining module 1102, where the initial user equipment
message carries the service request message and a redirection
attempt flag.
In the foregoing two implementation manners of this embodiment, the
cause of redirection may be that the UE is redirected to an HPLMN
of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an EHPLMN of the UE, or a
registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an HPLMN of the UE is
available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
In hardware implementation, the sending module 1103 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, the receiving module 1101 may be a
receiver or a transceiver, and the sending module 1103 and the
receiving module 1101 may be integrated to form a transceiving
unit, which is corresponding to a transceiver in the hardware
implementation. The determining module 1102 may be built in or
independent of a processor of a base station in a hardware form, or
may be stored in a memory of the base station in a software form,
so as to be invoked by the processor to perform an operation
corresponding to each of the foregoing modules. The processor may
be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip
microcomputer, or the like.
In the foregoing embodiment, after a receiving module 1101 receives
a temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of
a UE and sent by the UE, and receives a service request message
sent by the UE, a determining module 1102 determines a serving MME
of the UE according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the
UE; then, a sending module 1103 sends the service request message
and the PLMN available indication to the serving MME of the UE, so
that the serving MME of the UE sends a redirection indication, and
the UE registers with a home PLMN. Therefore, in a network sharing
scenario, the UE can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN
of the UE as early as possible.
FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
a base station according to the present invention. Compared with
the base station shown in FIG. 11, a difference lies in that the
base station shown in FIG. 12 may further include a setup module
1104.
The receiving module 1101 is further configured to receive, after
receiving the redirection complete indication, an initial context
setup message sent by the target MME of redirection, where the
initial context setup message is sent to the base station after the
target MME of redirection sets up a bearer between an SGW and a
PGW, and updates a location of the UE in an HSS.
The setup module 1104 is configured to set up a radio bearer
between the base station and the UE.
The sending module 1103 is further configured to send an initial
user equipment context setup complete message to the target MME of
redirection after the setup module 1104 sets up the radio bearer
between the base station and the UE, so that the target MME of
redirection sends a service response message to the UE after
performing bearer modification, where the service response message
carries the identifier of the target PLMN of redirection, so that
the UE registers with the target PLMN of redirection.
In this embodiment, the PLMN available indication received by the
receiving module 1101 is used to indicate that an HPLMN of the UE
is available, or the PLMN available indication received by the
receiving module 1101 is used to indicate that an EHPLMN of the UE
is available.
Optionally, the receiving module 1101 is further configured to:
when the PLMN available indication received by the receiving module
1101 is used to indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE is available,
receive, before receiving the service request message sent by the
UE, an identifier, sent by the UE, of the EHPLMN selected by the
UE.
The sending module 1103 is further configured to send, after the
determining module 1102 determines the serving MME of the UE, the
identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the serving MME of
the UE.
In hardware implementation, the sending module 1103 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, the receiving module 1101 may be a
receiver or a transceiver, and the sending module 1103 and the
receiving module 1101 may be integrated to form a transceiving
unit, which is corresponding to a transceiver in the hardware
implementation. The determining module 1102 and the setup module
1104 may be built in or independent of a processor of a base
station in a hardware form, or may be stored in a memory of the
base station in a software form, so as to be invoked by the
processor to perform an operation corresponding to each of the
foregoing modules. The processor may be a central processing unit
(CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the
like.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a
mobility management entity according to the present invention. The
MME in this embodiment may implement a procedure of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the
MME may include a receiving module 1301 and a sending module
1302.
The receiving module 1301 is configured to receive a service
request message and a PLMN available indication that are sent by a
base station, where the MME is a serving MME of a UE, and the
service request message and the PLMN available indication are sent
to the MME after the base station receives a temporary identifier
of the UE and the PLMN available indication that are sent by the
UE, receives the service request message sent by the UE, and
determines the serving MME of the UE according to a GMMEI in the
temporary identifier of the UE.
The sending module 1302 is configured to send a redirection
indication, so that the UE registers with a target PLMN of
redirection.
In an implementation manner of this embodiment, the sending module
1302 is specifically configured to send a redirection message to
the base station after the receiving module 1301 receives the PLMN
available indication, where the redirection message carries the
service request message and a cause of redirection, and the cause
of redirection includes that the UE is redirected to an HPLMN of
the UE, or the UE is redirected to an EHPLMN of the UE, or a
registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an HPLMN of the UE is
available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is available.
Further, the redirection message sent by the sending module 1302
further carries information about a target MME of redirection,
where the information about the target MME of redirection may be an
identifier of the target MME of redirection or an address of the
target MME of redirection.
Alternatively, the redirection message sent by the sending module
1302 further carries an identifier of the target PLMN of
redirection.
In another implementation manner of this embodiment, the sending
module 1302 is specifically configured to send a service response
message to the UE after receiving the PLMN available indication,
where the service response message carries the redirection
indication, and a cause of redirection may be that the UE is
redirected to an HPLMN of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an
EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an
HPLMN of the UE is available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is
available.
In this embodiment, the PLMN available indication received by the
receiving module 1301 is used to indicate that the HPLMN of the UE
is available, or the PLMN available indication received by the
receiving module 1301 is used to indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE
is available.
Further, in still another implementation manner of this embodiment,
the MME may further include a determining module 1303.
The receiving module 1301 is further configured to: when the PLMN
available indication received by the receiving module 1301 is used
to indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, receive, before
the sending module 1302 sends the redirection indication, an
identifier, sent by the base station, of the EHPLMN selected by the
UE.
The determining module 1303 is configured to determine the target
MME of redirection or the target PLMN of redirection according to
the identifier, received by the receiving module 1301, of the
EHPLMN selected by the UE.
Specifically, that the determining module 1303 determines the
target MME of redirection according to the identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE may be that: the determining module 1303
determines, according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by
the UE, an MME to which the EHPLMN selected by the UE belongs, and
determines that the MME to which the EHPLMN selected by the UE
belongs is the target MME of redirection; or the determining module
1303 reselects an EHPLMN for the UE according to the identifier of
the EHPLMN selected by the UE, and determines that an MME to which
the reselected EHPLMN belongs is the target MME of redirection.
After the determining module 1303 determines the target MME of
redirection, the information about the target MME of redirection is
carried in the redirection message sent by the sending module
1302.
Likewise, that the determining module 1303 determines the target
PLMN of redirection according to the identifier of the EHPLMN
selected by the UE may be that: the determining module 1303
determines, according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by
the UE, that the EHPLMN selected by the UE is the target PLMN of
redirection; or the determining module 1303 reselects an EHPLMN for
the UE according to the identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the
UE, and determines that the reselected EHPLMN is the target PLMN of
redirection.
After the determining module 1303 determines the target PLMN of
redirection, the identifier of the target PLMN of redirection is
carried in the redirection message sent by the sending module
1302.
In hardware implementation, the sending module 1302 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, the receiving module 1301 may be a
receiver or a transceiver, and the sending module 1302 and the
receiving module 1301 may be integrated to form a transceiving
unit, which is corresponding to a transceiver in the hardware
implementation. The determining module 1303 may be built in or
independent of a processor of a base station in a hardware form, or
may be stored in a memory of the base station in a software form,
so as to be invoked by the processor to perform an operation
corresponding to each of the foregoing modules. The processor may
be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip
microcomputer, or the like.
In the foregoing embodiment, after a receiving module 1301 receives
a service request message and a PLMN available indication that are
sent by a base station, a sending module 1302 sends a redirection
indication, so that a UE registers with a target PLMN of
redirection. Therefore, in a network sharing scenario, the UE can
select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as early
as possible.
FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of user
equipment according to the present invention. The UE in this
embodiment may implement a procedure of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 3 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 14, the UE may
include a sending module 1401.
The sending module 1401 is configured to: send a temporary
identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of the UE to a
base station; and send a service request message to the base
station, so that after receiving the service request message sent
by the UE, the base station determines a serving MME of the UE
according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE, and
sends the service request message and the PLMN available indication
to the serving MME of the UE. The temporary identifier of the UE
may be an S-TMSI of the UE.
Further, in an implementation manner of this embodiment, the UE may
further include a receiving module 1402.
The receiving module 1402 is configured to receive, after the
sending module 1401 sends the service request message to the base
station, a service response message sent by the serving MME of the
UE, where the service response message carries a redirection
indication, and a cause of redirection may be that the UE is
redirected to an HPLMN of the UE, or the UE is redirected to an
EHPLMN of the UE, or a registered PLMN of the UE changes, or an
HPLMN of the UE is available, or an EHPLMN of the UE is available;
and the service response message is sent to the UE after the
serving MME of the UE receives the PLMN available indication sent
by the base station.
The PLMN available indication sent by the sending module 1401 is
used to indicate that the HPLMN of the UE is available, or the PLMN
available indication sent by the sending module 1401 is used to
indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE is available.
The sending module 1401 is further configured to: when the PLMN
available indication sent by the sending module 1401 is used to
indicate that the EHPLMN of the UE is available, send, before
sending the service request message to the base station, an
identifier of the EHPLMN selected by the UE to the base station, so
that the base station sends the identifier of the EHPLMN selected
by the UE to the serving MME of the UE, and the serving MME of the
UE determines a target PLMN of redirection according to the EHPLMN
selected by the UE.
In hardware implementation, the sending module 1401 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, the receiving module 1402 may be a
receiver or a transceiver, and the sending module 1401 and the
receiving module 1402 may be integrated to form a transceiving
unit, which is corresponding to a transceiver in the hardware
implementation.
In the foregoing embodiment, a sending module 1401 sends a
temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication that are of a
UE to a base station, and then sends a service request message to
the base station, so that after receiving the service request
message sent by the UE, the base station determines a serving MME
of the UE according to a GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the
UE, and sends the service request message and the PLMN available
indication to the serving MME of the UE. In this way, after the
serving MME of the UE receives the service request message and the
PLMN available indication that are sent by the base station, the
serving MME of the UE sends a redirection indication, so that the
UE registers with a target PLMN of redirection, where the target
PLMN of redirection may be an EHPLMN of the UE. Therefore, in a
network sharing scenario, the UE can select a home PLMN of the UE
as a serving PLMN of the UE as early as possible.
FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
user equipment according to the present invention. The UE in this
embodiment may implement a procedure of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 6 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 15, the UE may
include a reading module 1501 and an accessing module 1502.
The reading module 1501 is configured to read an operator list
broadcast by a cell.
The accessing module 1502 is configured to: when the operator list
read by the reading module 1501 does not include a PLMN with which
the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a
UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, randomly select, if the
operator list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN from the at
least two VPLMNs for access.
In hardware implementation, the reading module 1501 and the
accessing module 1502 may be built in or independent of a processor
of a base station in a hardware form, or may be stored in a memory
of the base station in a software form, so as to be invoked by the
processor to perform an operation corresponding to each of the
foregoing modules. The processor may be a central processing unit
(CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the
like.
In the foregoing embodiment, when accessing a shared network, a
roaming subscriber can equally access multiple operators,
preventing a case in which an operator ranking first in an operator
list broadcast by a cell is overloaded due to access of too many
roaming subscribers, or achieves an excessive income from roaming
subscribers.
FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention.
The UE in this embodiment may implement a procedure of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 16, the UE may include a reading module 1601 and an accessing
module 1602.
The reading module 1601 is configured to read an operator list and
an operator barring indication that are broadcast by a cell, where
the operator barring indication is used to indicate an identifier
of a PLMN that is barred for access.
The accessing module 1602 is configured to: when the operator list
read by the reading module 1601 does not include a PLMN with which
the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a
UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, select, if the operator
list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN
indicated by the operator barring indication from the at least two
VPLMNs for access.
In hardware implementation, the reading module 1601 and the
accessing module 1602 may be built in or independent of a processor
of a base station in a hardware form, or may be stored in a memory
of the base station in a software form, so as to be invoked by the
processor to perform an operation corresponding to each of the
foregoing modules. The processor may be a central processing unit
(CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the
like.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention.
The UE in this embodiment may implement a procedure of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8 of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 17, the UE may include a reading module 1701 and an accessing
module 1702.
The reading module 1701 is configured to read an operator list and
a preferred operator indication that are broadcast by a cell, where
the preferred operator indication is used to indicate an identifier
of a PLMN that is preferably accessed by a roaming subscriber.
The accessing module 1702 is configured to: when the operator list
does not include a PLMN with which the UE successfully registers
most recently, a home PLMN of the UE, a UPLMN, or an OPLMN, select
the PLMN indicated by the preferred operator indication from the
operator list for access.
In hardware implementation, the reading module 1701 and the
accessing module 1702 may be built in or independent of a processor
of a base station in a hardware form, or may be stored in a memory
of the base station in a software form, so as to be invoked by the
processor to perform an operation corresponding to each of the
foregoing modules. The processor may be a central processing unit
(CPU), a microprocessor, a single-chip microcomputer, or the
like.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention.
The base station in this embodiment may implement a procedure of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 18, the base station may include an obtaining module 1801
and a broadcasting module 1802.
The obtaining module 1801 is configured to obtain an operator list
and an operator barring indication, where the operator barring
indication is used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is
barred for access.
The broadcasting module 1802 is configured to broadcast the
operator list obtained by the obtaining module 1801 and the
operator barring indication obtained by the obtaining module 1801,
so that after a UE reads the operator list and the operator barring
indication, and when the operator list does not include a PLMN with
which the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the
UE, a UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects, when
the operator list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the
PLMN indicated by the operator barring indication from the at least
two VPLMNs for access.
In hardware implementation, the broadcasting module 1802 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, and the obtaining module 1801 may be
built in or independent of a processor of a base station in a
hardware form, or may be stored in a memory of the base station in
a software form, so as to be invoked by the processor to perform an
operation corresponding to each of the foregoing modules. The
processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor,
a single-chip microcomputer, or the like.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention.
The base station in this embodiment may implement a procedure of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 19, the base station may include an obtaining module 1901
and a broadcasting module 1902.
The obtaining module 1901 is configured to obtain an operator list
and a preferred operator indication, where the preferred operator
indication is used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is
preferably accessed by a roaming subscriber.
The broadcasting module 1902 is configured to broadcast the
operator list obtained by the obtaining module 1901 and the
preferred operator indication obtained by the obtaining module
1901, so that after a UE reads the operator list and the preferred
operator indication that are broadcast by a cell, and when the
operator list does not include a PLMN with which the UE
successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN
of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects the PLMN indicated
by the preferred operator indication from the operator list for
access.
In hardware implementation, the broadcasting module 1902 may be a
transmitter or a transceiver, and the obtaining module 1901 may be
built in or independent of a processor of a base station in a
hardware form, or may be stored in a memory of the base station in
a software form, so as to be invoked by the processor to perform an
operation corresponding to each of the foregoing modules. The
processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor,
a single-chip microcomputer, or the like.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
FIG. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 20, the base station may include a transmitter 2001,
a receiver 2002, a memory 2003, and a processor 2004 that is
separately connected to the transmitter 2001, the receiver 2002,
and the memory 2003. Certainly, the base station may further
include general components, such as an antenna, a baseband
processing component, an intermediate/radio frequency processing
component, and an input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the
present invention sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2003 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2004 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2003, so as to execute the following operations:
receiving a temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication
that are of a UE and sent by the UE;
receiving a service request message sent by the UE, and determining
a serving MME of the UE according to a GMMEI in the temporary
identifier of the UE; and
sending the service request message and the PLMN available
indication to the serving MME of the UE.
It should be noted that, the base station shown in FIG. 20 may be
configured to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1, and descriptions of the temporary identifier of the UE,
a redirection message that is sent by the serving MME of the UE and
received by the base station, and the like are the same as those in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention, and
details are not described herein again.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 21 is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of
a mobility management entity according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 21, the MME may include a transmitter 2101, a
receiver 2102, a memory 2103, and a processor 2104 that is
separately connected to the transmitter 2101, the receiver 2102,
and the memory 2103. Certainly, the MME may further include general
components, such as an input/output apparatus. This embodiment of
the present invention sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2103 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2104 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2103, so as to execute the following operations:
receiving a service request message and a PLMN available indication
that are sent by a base station; and
sending a redirection indication, so that a UE registers with a
target PLMN of redirection.
It should be noted that, the MME shown in FIG. 21 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2
of the present invention, and descriptions of the redirection
indication sent by the MME and the like are the same as those in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of the present invention, and
details are not described herein again.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 22, the UE may include a transmitter 2201, a receiver
2202, a memory 2203, and a processor 2204 that is separately
connected to the transmitter 2201, the receiver 2202, and the
memory 2203. Certainly, the UE may further include general
components, such as an antenna, a baseband processing component, an
intermediate/radio frequency processing component, and an
input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the present invention
sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2203 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2204 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2203, so as to execute the following operations:
sending a temporary identifier and a PLMN available indication that
are of the UE to a base station; and
sending a service request message to the base station, so that
after receiving the service request message sent by the UE, the
base station determines a serving MME of the UE according to a
GMMEI in the temporary identifier of the UE, and sends the service
request message and the PLMN available indication to the serving
MME of the UE.
It should be noted that, the UE shown in FIG. 22 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3
of the present invention, and descriptions of the temporary
identifier of the UE, the PLMN available indication, and the like
are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 of the
present invention, and details are not described herein again.
In the foregoing embodiment, in a network sharing scenario, a UE
can select a home PLMN of the UE as a serving PLMN of the UE as
early as possible.
FIG. 23 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 23, the UE may include a transmitter 2301, a receiver
2302, a memory 2303, and a processor 2304 that is separately
connected to the transmitter 2301, the receiver 2302, and the
memory 2303. Certainly, the UE may further include general
components, such as an antenna, a baseband processing component, an
intermediate/radio frequency processing component, and an
input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the present invention
sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2303 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2304 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2303, so as to execute the following operations:
reading an operator list broadcast by a cell; and
if the operator list does not include a PLMN with which the UE
successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN
of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, randomly selecting, when the
operator list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN from the at
least two VPLMNs for access.
It should be noted that the UE shown in FIG. 23 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6
of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiment, when accessing a shared network, a
roaming subscriber can equally access multiple operators,
preventing a case in which an operator ranking first in an operator
list broadcast by a cell is overloaded due to access of too many
roaming subscribers, or achieves an excessive income from roaming
subscribers.
FIG. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 24, the UE may include a transmitter 2401, a receiver
2402, a memory 2403, and a processor 2404 that is separately
connected to the transmitter 2401, the receiver 2402, and the
memory 2403. Certainly, the UE may further include general
components, such as an antenna, a baseband processing component, an
intermediate/radio frequency processing component, and an
input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the present invention
sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2403 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2404 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2403, so as to execute the following operations:
reading an operator list and an operator barring indication that
are broadcast by a cell, where the operator barring indication is
used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is barred for access;
and
if the operator list does not include a PLMN with which the UE
successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN
of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, selecting, when the operator list
includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the PLMN indicated by
the operator barring indication from the at least two VPLMNs for
access.
It should be noted that the UE shown in FIG. 24 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7
of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of user equipment according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 25, the UE may include a transmitter 2501, a receiver
2502, a memory 2503, and a processor 2504 that is separately
connected to the transmitter 2501, the receiver 2502, and the
memory 2503. Certainly, the UE may further include general
components, such as an antenna, a baseband processing component, an
intermediate/radio frequency processing component, and an
input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the present invention
sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2503 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2504 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2503, so as to execute the following operations:
reading an operator list and a preferred operator indication that
are broadcast by a cell, where the preferred operator indication is
used to indicate an identifier of a PLMN that is preferably
accessed by a roaming subscriber; and
if the operator list does not include a PLMN with which the UE
successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN
of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, selecting the PLMN indicated by
the preferred operator indication from the operator list for
access.
It should be noted that the UE shown in FIG. 25 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8
of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
FIG. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 26, the base station may include a transmitter 2601,
a receiver 2602, a memory 2603, and a processor 2604 that is
separately connected to the transmitter 2601, the receiver 2602,
and the memory 2603. Certainly, the base station may further
include general components, such as an antenna, a baseband
processing component, an intermediate/radio frequency processing
component, and an input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the
present invention sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2603 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2604 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2603, so as to execute the following operations:
obtaining an operator list and an operator barring indication,
where the operator barring indication is used to indicate an
identifier of a PLMN that is barred for access; and
broadcasting the operator list and the operator barring indication,
so that after a UE reads the operator list and the operator barring
indication, and when the operator list does not include a PLMN with
which the UE successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the
UE, a UPLMN of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects, when
the operator list includes at least two VPLMNs, one PLMN except the
PLMN indicated by the operator barring indication from the at least
two VPLMNs for access.
It should be noted that the UE shown in FIG. 26 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9
of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiment, when a core network node of an
operator is overloaded or a quantity of access subscribers of an
operator reaches an upper limit of a rented share, subsequent
access of a roaming subscriber can be forbidden, to prevent
overload of an operator.
FIG. 27 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
embodiment of a base station according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 27, the base station may include a transmitter 2701,
a receiver 2702, a memory 2703, and a processor 2704 that is
separately connected to the transmitter 2701, the receiver 2702,
and the memory 2703. Certainly, the base station may further
include general components, such as an antenna, a baseband
processing component, an intermediate/radio frequency processing
component, and an input/output apparatus. This embodiment of the
present invention sets no limitation thereto.
The memory 2703 stores a group of program code, and the processor
2704 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory
2703, so as to execute the following operations:
obtaining an operator list and a preferred operator indication,
where the preferred operator indication is used to indicate an
identifier of a PLMN that is preferably accessed by a roaming
subscriber; and
broadcasting the operator list and the preferred operator
indication, so that after a UE reads the operator list and the
preferred operator indication that are broadcast by a cell, and
when the operator list does not include a PLMN with which the UE
successfully registers most recently, an HPLMN of the UE, a UPLMN
of the UE, or an OPLMN of the UE, the UE selects the PLMN indicated
by the preferred operator indication from the operator list for
access.
It should be noted that the UE shown in FIG. 27 may be configured
to implement the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10
of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiment, a roaming subscriber can access an
operator indicated by a preferred operator indication.
Persons skilled in the art may understand that the accompanying
drawings are merely schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments,
and modules or processes in the accompanying drawings are not
necessarily required for implementing the present invention.
Persons skilled in the art may understand that the modules in the
apparatuses provided in the embodiments may be arranged in the
apparatuses in a distributed manner according to the description of
the embodiments, or may be arranged in one or more apparatuses
which are different from those described in the embodiments. The
modules in the foregoing embodiments may be combined into one
module, or split into a plurality of submodules.
Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are
merely intended for describing the technical solutions of the
present invention, but not for limiting the present invention.
Although the present invention is described in detail with
reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill
in the art should understand that they may still make modifications
to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments
or make equivalent replacements to some technical features thereof,
without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of the
embodiments of the present invention.
* * * * *